Aging with Adventure: The Dyslexic Blogger

I almost flunked first grade because I couldn’t read. I was put in a “ special reading group” and taught to sight-read. That was the saving of my school career. I knew I didn’t process information as my classmates did. I was a little slower, but thanks to an aptitude for math and a passion for reading, both passed on to me from my mother, I never thought I was stupid or couldn’t do the work. I just had to try harder. Over time I realized that as hard as I tried I was not going to be able to be the top student. Coupled with shyness that realization that I was never going to be perfect, be the very best, held me back from trying things that interested me.

A funny thing happened, as I grew older. I married a man who loves me and I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I am loved, not perfectly but consistently by the man I married and perfectly, at time sternly or humorously by God. It is my experience that a woman who knows she is loved grows in confidence.

With confidence comes the willingness to take risks. The house will probably never be clean enough, but I am more than happy to invite people over for coffee or tea or lunch or dinner. I was never going to win my age group when I was (very past tense) marathoning but finishing was winning as far as I was concerned and I have the medals to prove it. I never expected to be the perfect parent, although I do fall from time to time into expecting my kids to be perfect. I can’t spell (perhaps you have noticed). Even worse I spell the wrong word right, so I don’t catch the mistake before posting a blog entry. I do have a couple of people who edit for me. Unfortunately, they have lives of their own. Sometimes they are busy. Post I must. Time and daily postings wait for no woman.

I love playing with words and ideas. If I had to be perfect in spelling and grammar, I would never publish a blog. Dyslexia is not an excuse for lack of due diligence before posting. I do run each post through spell check several times before posting. Nevertheless, knowing there is a chance I will mess up, is no longer a reason not to take a risk and try.

Part of aging with adventure is being willing to take risks, accept that we will not always be perfect in the things we do. My in-laws are in their 80s. Their world is getting smaller, limitations due to slowly declining health are increasing.

Now is not the time to let our world get smaller because we can’t do something we enjoy perfectly. Time will make our limitations truly limiting.

A nice thing about being older is it is easier to accept correction. One of my myriad sisters (She was very kind and gentle and a little scared. I appreciate her taking the risk.) informed me that my mistakes make me sound dumb. Sigh, I know….but at least I make a sound. That is much better than being too scared to try. By the way, if you see something wrong or the wrong word spelt correctly, let me know. I am actually thinking of offering a contest rewarding the reader who can find the most spelling and grammar errors during the week.

The point is life is to short not attempt what you love even if you know most likely there will be errors. Most spelling errors can be fixed. The time wasted not doing what you love,  even of it means making a mistake, can never be retrieved.

Personally,  instead of sounding dumb, I think I sound wise beyond my years. Such is the power of love in one formerly timid woman’s life.

1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3

Comments

[Sylvia]

So very wise.... It's not what we have (or don't have,) but what we do with what we have! I'm a great speller, but I don't make the time to blog.... Loved your use of "spelt."

[Carol Taber]

Oh dear, That wasn't a joke. How do I spell it?

[HotMomma]

Hi! A very beautiful piece, indeed! I can see that God worked wonderfully in your life.

[maggie]

that post was really inspiring. cheers to you!

[Sylvia]

"Spelt" is spelled just fine, and actually used just fine. It's just an uncommon use of the word as "spelled" is the more common usage. "Spelt" is most commonly used to refer to a type of wheat. It just made me giggle seeing that word considering your topic....